Dear all,
Ladies Cricket
The ladies played a 7 team festival in Guildford last monday and obtained their first win! SMCC ladies lost the first couple of fixtures, but after a rousing team talk by coach Bernie Thys, they came back with a vengence in the third game to win comprehensively. Let’s hope this is the first of many. More details will follow shortly in a special update.
Fantasy Cricket
Chris Sowton’s team still leads, but a storming week from Mark Bartolo has pulled him back. Jim Hughes scored the first league century of the year and was MVP this week with 151 points. If you want to enter a team – please go to http://smcc.easyfantasycricket.com/
Nets
After weeks of arguing with the supplier of the new netting, it’s finally arrived and we will have 3 lanes running available soon, as a result, senior nets will officially commence from next Tuesday evening (6pm onwards). When available, i will be running a lane with the bowling machine and offering a few tips on batting (not that any of you should really listen to me considering my start to the season) – first come, first served.
Garden Furniture
As you may have noticed, the number of white plastic chairs has dwindled over the years – if anyone has any spare garden furniture or knows where to get second hand plastic chairs – please let me know.
Last weekends results:
Midweek
The midweek X1 played at the Hartley Country Club last week, batting first SMCC made 250-6 in 40 overs with Alan Edwards making 110. Mark Bartolo made 40, Henry Fosters 30 and Sayif 24 (from 6 balls). Hartley were bowled out for 140 in response with the wickets being shared around.
Yesterday, the midweek X1 won against the Croydon Pawnbrokers. Batting first, SMCC made 228-6 with major contributions coming from Barney Smith (63) and Henry Foster (62*). Croydon Pawnbrokers were bowled out for 149 with Chris Rearden (3-15) and Barney Smith (4-19) doing the damage.
I know that the midweek skipper had trouble fulfilling this fixture due to lack of availability and had to rely on guests to play for the club. There are a number of midweek games, so if you are keen to play, please be proactive and approach Chris Rearden and Mark Bartolo.
Saturday
The 1’s came up against a village 10 man Mitcham side at Mitcham Common. Asked to bat on a damp, mossy surface SMCC did well to post 219-7 with De Ruyter making 65 and Little anchoring home the innings with 56*. Mitcham lost wickets regularly and ended up falling 59 runs short of the target. The pick of the bowling was Ilbery (2-26 accounting for the openers) and Sarwan, who was unlucky not to take a 5 wicket haul (ending 4-35). (D Ellis)
1st X1 League position – Joint 6th / 10
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No report received.
2nd X1 League position – 7th / 10
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An excellent all-round performance from the 3s saw a second consecutive victory, and our third consecutive score of 200+. Following decent (but not match-winning) contributions of 44 from Sbresni, 27 from Bartolo and 30 from Sowton, at 107-2 things were looking good until three quick wickets left us at 122-5. The innings might have crumbled at this point, but the middle and lower order batted admirably to post a very good total of 266. Clark and Ball (J) played beautifully for their 33s, but the game-changing innings came from Ball (S) with a boundary-laden 57, including 5 maximums, which pulverised the Ashford attack. With the ball, Breed bowled like a man who was thoroughly enjoying his first league outing of the season (and who was also pleased to be allowed out of the house following in his first post-nuptial game) and took 4-30. The other bowlers chipped in, and despite some rallying for the last couple of wickets, S&M finally dismissed the oppo for 141, and a big win by 125 runs as ensured. Same again next week please. (C Sowton)
3rd X1 League position – Joint 5th / 18
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After a thoroughly depressing start to the season with a loss to the neighbours, an understrength 4th 11 ventured to the Ann Summers roundabout to take on league leading Addiscombe. A sporty pitch and quick outfield suggested fun and games in store, but accurate spells from Tommy Trundles Ramsey and Roddy Bell dampened the home team’s ardour for run-scoring. Only 1 wicket for the opening duo but with only 36 runs scored from their 17 overs, the run rate created it’s own pressure. Jay Patel took 2 wickets in a spell of 7 overs, allowing SG Gladstone and Lethal Bizley to mop up with 3 wickets each. Bizley especially is to be praised for refusing to bowl the ball onto the ground, instead relying on a lot of flight. The reply began shakily, at one point 16 for 2 as both openers were dismissed by some aggressive early bowling, but the opposition’s warning sirens were heard as Simon, (continuing defamation issue), Stuart marched to the crease and formed a strong defensive line with Andrew ‘Go on, feel my lump’ Henderson. A partnership of 51 was followed by a brief innings from Mr. Buckles, but the target was knocked off by Stuart, finishing unbeaten on 55, and Gladstone who employed his new straight cut through mid-off to particular effect. All in all, an excellent result in unpleasant conditions, and leaves the team in good shape to face league leaders Oxted next week. (D Gladstone)
4th X1 League Position – Joint 3rd / 9
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A grey day punctured by occasional sunlight said Charlie Gill as he waited to bat at Fotscray Rugby Club. Charlie was right abut the weather and the cricket. Put in to bat on a track that had some variable bounce we owed our 210 for 9 to a briiliantly composed century by Jim Hughes. Batting with class and skill Jim survived being bowled off a no ball to stroke 15 fours and one effortless six – supreme judgement, ability and application. This was sfter we were 15 for 3 for the second week running as Stan Barrett-Johnston, Mike Nicholas and Cyrille Viossat were all bowled by deliveries that kept low.Jim was ably assisted by some useful vignettes by Andrew Jones (14), Tim Ash (10), Charlie Gill (21), Hubert Dampier (11) and Lewis Knapp (Not out 19). A wonderfully tight opening spell of medium quick bowling by Andy Jones (11 over 1 for 30) and Stan Barrett-Johnston (7 overs 0 for 12) saw OC’s struggling to keep up with the rate and needing all their skill to keep the ball out. Excellent ground fielding saw us reach half way with the OC’s having lost few wickets but needing a lot of runs. A wonderful 12 over spell by Joe Haines continued the miserly bowling (12-1-33-1) and enabled Charlie Gill (12-2-57-3) and Lewis Knapp (4-0-21-1) to attack at the other end. Hubert Dampier had two stumpings and a catch to his name and we came home by 35 runs. Jim Hughes took two good catches to add to his day. A good day and our first win of the season. (L Johnston)
5th X1 League position – 9th / 10
Sunday
Presidents Day produced a thrilling contest as the President X1 just edged the club side with 7 balls to spare. Batting first, SMCC were soon in trouble at 43-3 thank to Matty Syrett and Paul Corns, but Mark Bartolo and Khaled Ahmed joined forces to drag the score up past the 100 mark. Ahmed was the aggressor and past 50 before edging Dasandi to Greenwood in the slips. Lawrence and Khan went cheaply, but Sarwan provided an entertaining burst with some interesting hitting before being caught. The innings was declared after 56 overs for 223-8. Bernie Thys and John Greenwood opened the innings for the Presidents X1 and were quick to pounce on anything loose. Luke Harris manage to sneak one through the Chairmans defences but Thys continued to bat fluently. Adam Senn soon put an end to that as he sold the Ladies Coach for a tight single. The chase began to falter and it was left to Stephens and Syrett needing 100 to win off 20 overs. A few catches went down and the Presidents X1 took control with 5 overs to go. Stephens fell just before the end, but Dasandi and Syrett saw the President home. A great day and great food. Many thanks to the President for providing the entertainment.
http://stmcc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/results.asp
This weekends games:
Saturday
1st X1 away to Farncombe
2nd X1 home to Horsley & Send
3rd X1 home to Kempton
4th X1 away to Oxted & Limpsfield
5th X1 home to Old Wilsonians
5a’s away to TBC Sunday
1st X1 home to Gold Leaf Sports
2nd X1 home to Shades
http://stmcc.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/fixtures.asp
Best of luck to all the sides.
Dan